Who was the first pirate?

As an expert in the field of maritime history, I have a deep understanding of the evolution of piracy and the individuals who have been labeled as pirates throughout history. The term "pirate" has been used to describe a wide range of individuals, from those who engaged in state-sanctioned piracy to those who operated outside the law. When we talk about the "first pirate," it's important to clarify what we mean by the term. If we're looking for the first recorded instances of piracy, we're stepping back into ancient history, long before the age of exploration and the figures like Francis Drake. Historically, piracy has been a part of human maritime activity since the earliest recorded times. The ancient Greeks and Romans had stories of pirates, and the seas around the Mediterranean were plagued by them. In the Phoenician and Greek times, piracy was a common practice, with pirates often being from the coastal city-states such as Tyre and Rhodes. The Cilicians of Asia Minor were also notorious pirates in the Roman era. However, if we're looking for a figure who is often romanticized as a pirate in the popular sense, we might consider someone like Sir Francis Drake. As you mentioned, he was known as "my pirate" by Queen Elizabeth I, which indicates the blurred line between piracy and privateering during the time of the Elizabethan Era. Drake was a privateer, which means he was a private person (or ship) authorized by a government to attack foreign vessels during wartime. His most famous voyage, from 1577 to 1580, where he became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe, was a significant achievement that blended elements of exploration, privateering, and what some might call piracy. It's important to note that the concept of piracy has evolved over time. What was considered piracy in one era might have been seen as legitimate warfare or even a heroic act in another. The legal and moral distinctions between a pirate and a privateer are not always clear-cut, and they often depend on the perspective of the historian or the nation telling the story. In conclusion, defining the "first pirate" is a complex task due to the subjective nature of the term and the vast scope of maritime history. It's more accurate to say that piracy has existed in various forms throughout human history, with figures like Francis Drake representing a specific type of pirate that operated with the sanction of a state, blurring the lines between legal and illegal activities on the high seas.

Francis Drake, nicknamed --my pirate-- by Queen Elizabeth I, was among the so-called --Sea Dog-- privateers licensed by the English government to attack Spanish shipping. Drake sailed on his most famous voyage from 1577 to 1580, becoming the first English captain to circumnavigate the globe.Sep 19, 2012